Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Working with anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians and medical professionals to deliver anesthesia for medical and surgical procedures, providing direct care for patients before, during or after a medical procedure or surgery by performing patients' assessments;
• Preparing patients for anesthesia, administering and maintaining anesthesia to ensure proper sedation and pain management, overseeing patient recovery from anesthesia and caring for patients' immediate post-operative needs.
• Initiate the planned anesthetic technique, which may include general, regional and local anesthesia and monitored anesthesia care (MAC);
• Administer the anesthetic agents, adjuvant drugs, fluids and blood products necessary to manage the anesthetic milieu and to maintain the patient's physiologic homeostasis and correct abnormal responses to the anesthesia or the surgery;
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary VA Maryland Healthcare System or Network groups in research and educational initiatives to improve patient care outcomes and the care delivery system.
• Actively participates in the process of teaching, monitoring, evaluating, documenting and possible planning and coordinating of educational activities.

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Work Schedule: Su-Sa, Rotating Shifts; 8/10/12 hours, day/evening/night
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN5EDRPBaltimore@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit for qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this VA Handbook 5005.)

Education. A degree in nursing from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate state-accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies (The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. OR A graduate of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, and unrestricted registration AND possess a Certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). AND A graduate of an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) at the time the program was completed by the applicant.

Licensure/Registration. Possess a current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Certification. Possess certification by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists is a requirement for employment.

English Language Proficiency. Nurse Anesthetists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met:

Entry Level: (Nurse II):Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills and abilities present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level Nurse Anesthetist. Entry level into nurse anesthesia practice may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Ability to translate the principles of professional nursing practice in the care of assigned patients in order to provide appropriate care.
2. Ability to do a pre-anesthetic patient history and physical, which includes collecting pre-operative consults and data.
3. Ability to formulate an anesthetic plan and describe the anesthetic risks, benefits and options to the patient.
4. Ability to administer inhalation, regional, intravenous, local, and topical anesthetics and to detect unfavorable reactions in order to continuously evaluate the patient's physical status.
5. Ability to respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and drugs, and using appropriate resuscitation procedures for patient care.
6. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.
7. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
8. Ability to practice nurse anesthesia with colleagues and peers utilizing a collaborative team concept of anesthesia care.

Full Performance Level: (Nurse III)

Experience and Education. In addition to meeting the requirements for Entry Level, the CRNA has had progressively responsible experience in the administration of anesthetics as indicated in the knowledge, skills and abilities listed below. These individuals must demonstrate the ability to participate in a program for nurse anesthesia care and demonstrate knowledge of anesthetizing locations, methods, equipment and procedures. At this level, the CRNA has experience in the administration of anesthetics that has demonstrated the nurse anesthetist's ability to participate in team programs that are technically challenging and/or complicated. Typically candidates can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of Full Performance Level within 2 years from entering the occupation.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Full Performance Level practice in nurse anesthesia includes but is not limited to the following:

1. Skill in conducting and managing anesthesia for a broad range of complex surgical procedures. In addition, the CRNA must be able to adapt/modify anesthesia techniques in order to optimize patient care.
2. Ability to complete work assignments selected to add depth and breadth to their technical knowledge and skill competence. Work assignments will vary at each facility depending on the progressive acuity required for anesthesia care.
3. Ability to respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and drugs, and by the use of basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques in order to perform necessary resuscitation procedures.
4. Ability to effectively blend technology, skills, and competency for the advancement of anesthesia techniques, pharmacology, and equipment.
5. Ability to apply new developments and theories to develop and demonstrate the ability to recognize and solve various complex anesthesia situations.
6. Ability to practice nurse anesthesia with colleagues and peers in a team concept of anesthesia care and blend management skills with technical experience.
7. Ability to recognize clinical and technical aspects of anesthesia care and has in-depth knowledge of anesthesia methods and techniques for the practice of anesthesia.
8. Ability to perform as a mentor, preceptor, or nurse educator providing didactic and clinical instruction for graduate-level nurse anesthesia students and/or other anesthesia care providers.
9. Ability to participate in the development of anesthesia patient care audit processes involving in depth review and analysis of anesthesia records.
10. Ability to provide guidance and instruction in preparing others for positions of leadership and ethical practices which impact patient care.

Grandfathering Provision.
All nurse anesthetists employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Nurse anesthetists who are grandfathered under the provisions of this subparagraph may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level (Nurse III), but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

References: VA Handbook 5005/37, Part II, Appendix G7 dated August 24, 2010

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Moderate Lifting (15-44 lbs.); Light Lifting (under 15 lbs.); Light Carrying (under 15 lbs.); Straight Pulling (1-2 hours); Pushing (1-2 hours); Both hands required; Walking (4-6 hours); Standing (4-6 hours); Kneeling (1-2 hours); Repeated bending (1-2 hours); Both legs required: Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing aid permitted.

Education

CRNA Salary Range: Candidate's education and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered by a Professional Standards Board in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Testing Designated Position: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Annual leave shall accrue for full-time Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists at the rate of 8 hours for each full biweekly pay period.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .